End of an era, BMW N54 and S65 motors finally knocked out of the International Engine of the year awards, BMW takes home two 2013 Awards N20 and N13

End of an era, BMW N54 and S65 motors finally knocked out of the International Engine of the year awards, BMW takes home two 2013 Awards N20 and N13

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End of an era, BMW N54 and S65 motors finally knocked out of the International Engine of the year awards, BMW takes home two 2013 Awards N20 and N13

Well it is a changing of the guard and the end of an era of dominance for BMW at the International Engine of the Year Awards. 2013 marks the end of the N54 twin turbo inline-6 and S65 V8 appearing on the list. The S65 V8 lost this year as not only is the E9X M3 at the end of its model run but the more than worthy McLaren M838T took home the award in the 3.0 to 4.0 liter category. The S65 V8 ends its run with 5 straight awards in the 3.0 to 4.0 liter category.

The N54 finishes as the most awarded six cylinder BMW motor in history when its six straights victories for its displacement class are also added to its win in the Best New Engine award category as well as two overall International Engine of the Year awards. That means nine awards total for the motor exceeding the eight the BMW S54 received but one less than the S85 V10 which overall has the most with 10. BimmerBoost believes the S54 is the superior motor but things like efficiency are very important to the panel and the N54 is more fuel efficient than the S54. It is not just performance that rules with the judging panel.

The BMW N20 makes the list for the second year in a row in the 1.8 to 2.0 liter category where it is very deserving. The upcoming 360 horsepower 26 pounds of boost turbo four cylinder Mercedes M133 which will see duty in the CLA45 AMG is the only motor likely to rival it in this category.

The BMW N13 gets its seventh straight award in the 1.4 to 1.8 liter category making for the only BMW motor to exceed 6 straight victories in its class. Excellent work and worthy of admiration certainly.

Congratulations to BMW although BMW brought home four total awards last year. BMW remains well in first place as the most awarded engine manufacturer in the International Engine of the Awards in the competitions history.

How the S65 got knocked off is beyond me. The N20 is amazing for a whole different reason - but for a sports-specific use, there isn't much else similar to an S65 in terms of response. I guess the efficiency isn't as good as other engines? I know they factor a bunch of crap in, but I want to know why.

How the S65 got knocked off is beyond me. The N20 is amazing for a whole different reason - but for a sports-specific use, there isn't much else similar to an S65 in terms of response. I guess the efficiency isn't as good as other engines? I know they factor a bunch of crap in, but I want to know why.

Well it's like when the S54 got knocked off. It's at the end of its span and a premium is being put on emissions. The S65 isn't frugal in its fuel use but then again if that mattered so much it wouldn't have won 5 straight anyway. This competition is more about engineering and design and the S65 and S54 were awesome.

I don't think the N54 really was as deserving as either or as good (take those turbos off and what do you have? junk) but considering these guys have an eco category it is clear where emphasis is shifting.

If it takes a McLaren motor in a 250k+ car to knock it out that's fine with me.

The N54, S65 and to a lesser extent S54 will still continue to be high performers... just not on this trophy podium.

I am intrigued to see where the S55 pans out.

I am going to be honest, I wasn't really interested in the S55 up until yesterday. I am now even more concerned about the response of the engine, however - I think they are going to make some good power... As a perfect example of what sucks about the turbo engines from BMW, is they create a flat punch of torque all at once. So, for example, I was having fun with the X1 (borrowed) with DCT off. I wanted to get it a bit sideways around a corner (maybe 8-10 MPH), and punched it midcorner. The engine didn't react until I was OUT of the corner. That's unacceptable for an M car - I use the throttle in my M3 to balance the car around a corner, now I have to pre-react/pre-time the boost? I am guessing it will be better than the N20, but haven't driven a turbo car without this lag - and BMW engines are supposedly very good with minimal lag.

We shall see. Definitely interested, but not sure I will ever buy one.

I am going to be honest, I wasn't really interested in the S55 up until yesterday. I am now even more concerned about the response of the engine, however - I think they are going to make some good power... As a perfect example of what sucks about the turbo engines from BMW, is they create a flat punch of torque all at once. So, for example, I was having fun with the X1 (borrowed) with DCT off. I wanted to get it a bit sideways around a corner (maybe 8-10 MPH), and punched it midcorner. The engine didn't react until I was OUT of the corner. That's unacceptable for an M car - I use the throttle in my M3 to balance the car around a corner, now I have to pre-react/pre-time the boost? I am guessing it will be better than the N20, but haven't driven a turbo car without this lag - and BMW engines are supposedly very good with minimal lag.

We shall see. Definitely interested, but not sure I will ever buy one.

There will always be lag and the response will never be there. Therefore in my opinion it will never be as good no matter how much power and torque they give you.

There will always be lag and the response will never be there. Therefore in my opinion it will never be as good no matter how much power and torque they give you.

That's a damn shame BMW M GmbH thinks that's acceptable. It really is. The car was always the "scalpel" compared to other cars - doesn't ring true anymore for them I guess. If they would just give the OPTION for people to remain NA, that would be perfect - but it will never happen.

This why Porsche has shown they are the real enthusiast company who really builds the ultimate driving machine. I guess there is no substitute eh?

I would love to have the choice. Hell, I wish BMW would just let me pick my motor from their catalog. I'd have an S85 in a Z4.

Right - exactly... That's the thing I don't understand. The people who could care less about turbo/NA can just get whatever they feel is right for them. If someone who is a purist wants something else, and they are willing to pay for it - let them pay for what they want. This is what Porsche does, and they are very good at it. I don't see why BMW is going with this generic modular engine crap - that's the antithesis of what they have always done.

The M3 (in the past) was a viable option to the P-car, in the future, I just don't see the M3 comparing to them anymore. I see the next M3 as a 335isss M Double Sport <g> - nothing really special about it. I guess this is all speculation, but that's just what we have been seeing with the M5 - so am guessing it will trickle down to the M3 too. I am almost willing to bet on it. Argh. Makes me upset just thinking about it. I don't see how the current management at BMW M doesn't see this (or hear about it daily).

The M3 (in the past) was a viable option to the P-car, in the future, I just don't see the M3 comparing to them anymore.

Not to mention the motors were even better. The S54 was flat out better than what you could get in something like a 996 C4S. Less displacement and more power at less money, phenomenal. This is when M showed who was boss.

Originally Posted by inlineS54B32

I don't see how the current management at BMW M doesn't see this (or hear about it daily).

Anyone know how the S85 faired back in its run? I would think it would have equalled the s65 but I know it did not which is odd given it was one of the very few v10's and has all the technology and response of the v8. The thing with the s65 and I am not knocking it as I am ridiculously in love with my m3, is the 3-4 category is kind of weak and there are no other v8's it goes up against. If it was a test of the best v8 than I think it would fair a lot worse. It kind of makes you wonder if there is some thought of this in design because winning that award is a huge marketing tool for bmw and tehy use it in a lot of their press. Keeping it at 4L means they dominate that 3-4 category

This why Porsche has shown they are the real enthusiast company who really builds the ultimate driving machine. I guess there is no substitute eh?

I would love to have the choice. Hell, I wish BMW would just let me pick my motor from their catalog. I'd have an S85 in a Z4.

Then go buy a Porsche and quit complaining. Sheesh. Out of the S65, N54, and S54, the S54 is King of performance. Period. People spend so much time bickering about evolution. Suck it up and face it. The S55 will punish the S65. Ok, it won't rev to 8500. OK. Accept it already.

I am going to be honest, I wasn't really interested in the S55 up until yesterday. I am now even more concerned about the response of the engine, however - I think they are going to make some good power... As a perfect example of what sucks about the turbo engines from BMW, is they create a flat punch of torque all at once. So, for example, I was having fun with the X1 (borrowed) with DCT off. I wanted to get it a bit sideways around a corner (maybe 8-10 MPH), and punched it midcorner. The engine didn't react until I was OUT of the corner. That's unacceptable for an M car - I use the throttle in my M3 to balance the car around a corner, now I have to pre-react/pre-time the boost? I am guessing it will be better than the N20, but haven't driven a turbo car without this lag - and BMW engines are supposedly very good with minimal lag.

We shall see. Definitely interested, but not sure I will ever buy one.

I myself am now concerned with the DCT performance on the upcoming M4/M3 . The alarm was after I drove the M6 and M5....I didn't like the bog in the power at post shifting compared to the consistency in power the DCT N54 and S65 delivers at post shifts.

If the post shifts on the DCT M3/M4 are just like that of the M5/M6 I am sticking with my DCT N54

I myself am now concerned with the DCT performance on the upcoming M4/M3 . The alarm was after I drove the M6 and M5....I didn't like the bog in the power at post shifting compared to the consistency in power the DCT N54 and S65 delivers at post shifts.

If the post shifts on the DCT M3/M4 are just like that of the M5/M6 I am sticking with my DCT N54